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It’s summer, and that means it’s time to go out and get a scoop of your favorite flavor.

July is National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month is the national day.

In 1984 President Ronald Reagan designated the month and day. Reagan stated that 90 percent of the nation’s population enjoyed the frosty treat, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

In North Augusta there are two local shops that are recognizing the holiday. The Pink Dipper, 501 Georgia Ave., and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, 1279 Knox Ave., both have lined up family friendly events and specials.

The Pink Dipper focuses heavily on their fans of the four-legged variety.

“Our annual Dog Days of Summer will kick-off after National Ice Cream Day,” said Lindy Myers, co-owner of the Pink Dipper. “Specials include doggie sundaes, doggie treats and natural dog treats.”

For humans there will also be buy one, get one specials and prize specials from 1 to 8 p.m. on July 21. In August, there will also be a Shepeard Blood Drive with donors receiving free ice cream.

At Bruster’s there will be some equally exciting, and tasty, events going on.

“On the 21st, from 3 to 5 p.m., we’re going to have Scoop, who is our mascot, here,” said Rhonda Kendrick, manager. “We also celebrate his birthday on National Ice Cream Day. We’ll have a bouncy house, face painting and we try to incorporate it into a summer thing – where did you go and what did you do, that sort of thing. Anybody who shows up with a vacation shirt, like Disneyland, Myrtle Beach, wherever they’ve been, will get a buy one, get one free waffle cone.”

There will also be games and prizes available for those who want to participate.

Bruster’s also participates in the blood drives and is focused heavily on ingraining itself in the community.

“We want to make it fun for everybody,” Kendrick said. “If we haven’t hit on the type of event you want just give us a call. We’ll try to accommodate it.”

Scott Rodgers is the news editor at the North Augusta Star and has been with the paper since January 2013 after previously working at the Aiken Standard. He is a graduate of Alvernia University and currently attends Drexel University.